SZA Calls Out “Hostile Relationship” With Record Label President

In a since-deleted tweet, SZA suggested that her label is holding up the release of her new music, as HotNewHipHop notes. SZA recently tweeted and deleted, “At this point y’all gotta ask punch,” referring to Terrence “Punch” Henderson, who is president of Top Dawg Entertainment. “I’ve done all I can do.”

Someone responded to SZA’s tweet, asking, “Would you saaay this is an adverse or hostile relationship orrr just out of your hands = you don’t know.” SZA replied, “BEEN hostile.” In another tweet, SZA indicated that “all [Punch] says to her” about releasing new music is “soon.”

On his own Twitter, Punch obliquely denied holding up the release of SZA’s music. In one instance, he replied to someone who accused him of not “let[ting] an artist release her own music,” by tweeting, “you’re 100% wrong.”

SZA released her debut album Ctrl in June 2017 via Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. Months before the record’s release, in October 2016, SZA tweeted and deleted, “I actually quit. @iamstillpunch can release my album if he ever feels like it. Y’all be blessed.”

Pitchfork has reached out to SZA’s label representative for comment.